Return to Alkaline Rocks Platy crystals of baratovite, a Ca-K-Li-Ti silicate mineral superficially similar to micas, but showing a spectacular palette of anomalous inky colors under the polarizing microscope. This mineral was discovered at Dara-i-Pioz in northern Tadjikistan and has since been reported only at one other locality. The field of view is about 4 mm across.